History

The Fort Bragg Blood Donor Center was established in the 1960s. Over the years, the mission of the Fort Bragg Blood Donor Center has grown and the center became one of the premier donor centers in the Armed Services Blood Program.

Before 1997, most of the units of blood collected were from the 82nd Airborne Division. The donor center was staffed by Blood Bank Platoon, 32nd Medical Logistic Battalion, commanded by LTC Herman Peterson and Major Joann Daugirda. They were instrumental in conducting the mobile blood drives on Fort Bragg during that time. One of the Fort Bragg Blood Donor Center key missions was to maintain the contingency missions for the Special Forces and rapidly deployed units at Fort Bragg which continues today.

After 9/11, the Fort Bragg Blood Donor Center blood support mission increased significantly, to provide blood in support of military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, or other overseas contingency operations, as directed. To meet this mission requirement, a USAR Blood Donor Center unit was mobilized and augmented to the Fort Bragg Blood Donor Center. The donor center also expanded mobile collection operations at Fort Jackson, Fort Lee, Fort Eustis, Charleston Naval Base, NASA, and the Virginia Military Institute. Additionally, the Fort Bragg Blood Donor Center took command and control of the Fort Knox Satellite Blood Donor Center from 2007-2008.

To improve the quality of care, the donor center established the plateletpheresis program, providing much needed platelet concentrates to soldiers and their family members at Womack Army Medical Center.